Introduction.In 1808 Emperor Napoleon stated that the Vistula Uhlans
were to be treated on a par with French chasseur regiments.

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In 1797 the Polish Legion in Italy numbered several thousands men (mostly infantry and few gunners).
They were not mercenaries fighting for money, like for example the Swiss infantry.
They were patriots.
In 1798, near Garigliano River roamed stallions of the Neapolitan King's horse guard.
Eliasz Tremo suggested to generals Kniaziewicz and Dabrowski to organize a cavalry regiment.
This idea was approved by French General Championnet. It was not long before 120 Poles mounted their horses.
Soon two squadrons were formed. It was the Cavalry Regiment of Polish-Italian Legion.
In 1800 the regiment moved north and became part of the Danube Legion. And then was again in Italy.
"The Decree of 11 November 1807 transferred the
Legion Polacco-Italienne
into the service of Westphalia, but this was reversed by the Decree of 20 March 1808, which brought them back into French service.
In a letter to Davout dated 31 March 1808 Napoleon renamed the legion the Vistula Legion ...
He also stated that the infantry regiments were to be treated on a par with French line regiments
and cavalry with the French chasseurs-a-cheval regiments.
The Legion and its Lancer Regiment went to Metz and Bayonne, where they and detachments from all other Poles
in French service, began organizing the Vistula Legion by the end of May 1808.
Later, the Vistula Legion organized its depot in Sedan ...
The lancer regiment was organized like a French chasseur-a-cheval regiment."
(Nafziger - "Poles and Saxons" pp 77-78)

In September 1808 Napoleon promoted 18 men of Guard
Lighthorse Regiment (another Polish unit in French service) to second lieutenants
in the Vistula Uhlan Regiment.
In 1809 the Guard Lighthorse Regiment was about to become lancers and several Vistula uhlans were sent as lance-instructors
to that regiment.
By the way, many of the Vistula Uhlans came from peasant families and were pro-Republican.
In contrast, the privates of Guard Lighthorse Regiment were "sons of the first families in Poland".
Although both regiments were equally good on the battlefield the Emperor favored his guardsmen.

The 1st and 2nd Vistula Uhlans were one of the best regiments of light cavalry of the Napoleonic Wars.

In early 1811 the 1st Vistula Uhlan Regiment was, briefly, the 1st Lancer Regiment in the French army.
In April of the same year, with the activation of the six French lancer regiments, "they were redesignated the 7th -
which after their years of excellent service, was practically an insult." (Elting - "Napoleonic Uniforms" Vol 1)
The 2nd Vistula Uhlan Regiment was raised in 1811 and soon were renamed to 8th Lancers in the French army.
Colonel of the 8th Lancers (2nd Vistula Uhlans) was Tomasz Lubienski.

On 13th December 1813 Napoleon merged the 7th and 8th Lancer Regiment (1st and 2nd Vistula Uhlans) into a new 8th
Lancer Regiment. The officers of the 7th vigorously protested and sent a memorandum of protest to Napoleon. So the
Emperor again changed his mind and ordered to rebuild the 7th with three squadrons.
In 1814, after Napoleon's abdication the 7th and 8th Lancers were disbanded.

In May 1815 Napoleon issued a decree organizing the 7th Lancer Regiment, or lighthorse lancers,
(Chavauleger-Lancier Polonais). It was commanded by Adam Huppe. On 23 April the regiment had 8 officers and 252 other
ranks. It soon increased to 350 men but there were only 13 horses. Napoleon urged Minister of War, Marshal Davout,
to send them horses. On 12 June there were 500 men but still without horses. The Emperor planned to use the 7th Lancers
as the advance guard of his army. He hoped it will make easier for Polish nationals to desert from the Russian, Prussian and
Austrian armies.

Colonel Jan Konopka.
He was the son of Anna, a distant relative of the French
Princes of Conde (ext.link)
Konopka served in the Polish army since 1792 and took part in the Polish–Russian War of 1792.
After the war Konopka emigrated to France and in 1795 entered the ranks of French 1st Hussars.
In 1797 he joined the Polish Legions in Italy.
In 1807 Konopka left Italy and returned to Poland where served as a major in Polish 5th Horse Chasseur Regiment.
In October he was awarded the Cross of Legion d'Honneur for the Battle of Friedland.
In 1807 Jan Konopka became the commander of Vistula Uhlan Regiment.
In December 1808 he was awarded Comm. of Legion d'Honneur for the Battle of Tudela.
After the defeat at Jevennes (Yébenes) in March 1809, Konopka left the regiment.
In August 1810 he returned to his Vistula Uhlans.
In 1811, for the Battle of Albuera, Jan Konopka was promoted to the rank of general de brigade.
Napoleon made Konopka the Chief Inspector of Training for the newly formed
French lancer regiments.
Shortly, in 1812, Konopka commanded the Old Guard Lancer Regiment. This appointment however was
not well taken by many guardsmen. They already enjoyed a great reputation while Konopka was bragging about his
Vistula Uhlans' exploits.)
Thus in July 1812 Konopka received new command, this time over the newly formed 3rd Young Guard Lancer Regiment.
Unfortunately his regiment was destroyed by overwhelming force of Cossacks and Russian cavalry at Slonim and
Konopka was taken prisoner.
After being released from prison in 1814 Konopka was offered the command of Polish cavalry brigade but he declined.
Exhausted by wounds and fatigue he died the same year in Warsaw.

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Uniforms.

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The Vistula Uhlans wore dark blue uniforms of light cavalry.
The short-tailed dark blue coat was called kurtka and had yellow lapels and yellow shoulder straps.
The uhlans of Elite Company wore white (not red) epaulete on the right and white aiguillette on the left shoulder.
The Bardin regulations in 1812 introduced dark blue shoulder straps with yellow pipping.

The tight breeches were dark blue with two yellow stripes down the outer seam separated by dark blue.
The overalls were dark blue with a single yellow stripe and a black leather inserts on the inside.

Before campaign they were usually issued white sheepskin edged yellow.

The lance pennons were red over white.

The regiment of Vistula Uhlans consisted of four squadrons, or 8 companies.
In 1807 the 1st Company became the Elite Company, and its members received bearskins and black horses.
The other companies (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th) wore
the Polish traditional tall, square topped shako, called czapka (pronounced chapka).
Czapka means simply headwear. It was black and dark blue, with dark blue top pipped white.
In front was Maltese Cross and a tri-color cocade (the sunburst plaque was introduced in 1811). In 1812 theoretically the czapka was of simpler design.
The czapka was sturdier than shako but not as heavy as the helmet.
It gave some protection against the weaker saber blows.

Picture (right): new uniform of centre company of 7th Lighthorse-Lancers (1st Vistula Uhlans) according to Bardin Regulations issued in 1812.
The jacket was dark blue with yellow lapels, collar and cuffs. The tight breeches were also dark blue.
The yellow shoulder straps were replaced with dark blue with yellow pipping. The headwear was the traditional Polish czapka but of simpler design
than the previous models.

Picture (left): uniform of centre company of 8th Lighthorse-Lancers (2nd Vistula Uhlans) according to
German artist Herbert Knotel.

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Regiment

Coat

Breeches

Collar Cuffs Lapels

Shoulder straps

Turnbacks

Pipping

1st Uhlans (7th Lancers)

dark blue

dark blue

yellow

yellow

yellow

dark blue

2nd Uhlans (8th Lancers)

dark blue

dark blue

dark blue

dark blue

yellow

yellow

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In 1811 Napoleon had nine regiments of lancers.
The 1st-6th were formed from Frenchmen and wore
green uniforms and helmets. The 7th, 8th and 9th
wore dark blue uniforms and czapkas.

Hohenlinden, 1800.
The Uhlans and French chasseurs have captured
Prince Lichtenstein and took 800 prisoners.

In 1800 the regiment of Polish uhlans numbered 700 men and only 400 horses.
In 1800, Bonaparte won a victory at the Battle of Marengo and drove the Austrians back toward the Alps.
In Germany, General Moreau defeated Archduke John at Hohenlinden,
forcing him to sign an armistice. In terms of the number of troops involved (55,000 Frenchmen with 99 guns vs 60,000
Austrians with 214 guns)
Hohenlinden was the largest battle
in the French Revolutionary Wars.
At Hohenlinden, NCO of the uhlans, Jan Pawlikowski, and a French horse chasseur attacked 59 Austrian infantrymen.
Two officers were "neutralized" and the remaining surrendered. General Decean met Pawlikowski with his captives
and wanted to promote him. Pawlikowski replied: "I can't read, can't write, can't be an officer."
The uhlans also have captured Prince Lichtenstein. Officer Wojciech Dobiecki wrote that
Lichtenstein was captured by private Trandowski of 6th Company. Trandowski was promissed a bottle of good
wine if he brings a prisoner. So he set at the gallop and "snatched" the Prince who stood in front of the
Austrian troops. After battle Liechtenstain was exchanged for polish officer Fiszer who was captured by
the Austrians near Offenburg. This is estimated the uhlans and French horse chasseurs captured total of 800
prisoners. (Source: "Pismo pulkownika Wojciecha Dobieckiego do sp. jenerala Kazimierza Tanskiego", "Czas"
dodatek miesieczny 1859, t.15.)

The King of Naples, Joseph Bonaparte (Napoleon's brother), wanted to have the Uhlan Regiment of
Polish-Italian Legion as his personal escort. The uhlans however, after 8 years of campaigning in Italy were
homesick and vigorously protested. Thus the French let them go and on January 30, 1807 the regiment joyfully
began their march home. After 114 days they arrived in the city of Legnica, in Silesia.
In Silesia, Napoleon's younger brother, Jerome Bonaparte, sent General Lefebvre-Desnouettes with
battalion of Saxon infantry, and Bavarian troops (7 infantry companies, 1 squadron of chevauxlegers and 2 guns)
against small Prussian corps under Major von Losthin.
Losthin's forces consisted of 8 infantry companies (1,100-1,200 bayonets), squadron of hussars (80 sabers),
squadron of dragoons (80 sabers), squadron of Bosniaks (80), and 4 guns. Losthin's force did not exceed 1,500 men.
The Bavarians and the white clad Saxons (see picture) met Losthin's Prussians at Kunt (today Katy Wroclawskie in Poland).
The Saxons had no heart for fighting and after short combat threw their muskets down. The Prussians captured 2 Bavarian
guns.

General Lefebvre-Desnouettes unexpectedly met several uhlans on their way to Poland.
He had learned that the uhlans were unaware of situation in Silesia. He sent Captain Fijalkowski to
Legnica with orders to the regiment to mount up and come. Already at midnight the trumpeters sounded "on horse!"
At first the half-asleep officers thought that there was a fire in the town.
The regiment was ready in 7 minutes, making an excellent impression on Lefebvre Desnouettes.
Unfortunately only 240-250 uhlans had horses and only these men were taken by the Frenchman.
They rode toward the village of Jawor (Jauer), then rested a little bit and continued with the
night march.

In the morning the uhlans have encountered Losthin's force.
Levebvre-Desnouettes had total of 400-600 men: 240-300 uhlans under Major Swiderski,
and Bavarians (two infantry companies, tiny troop of chevaulegeres, and 3 guns).
The Bavarian infantry was formed in skirmish chain and exchanged few shots with the Prussian skirmishers
when the Vistula Uhlans charged.
Lefebvre-Desnouettes ordered the I and III Squadron to attack, while the II Squadron was to cut off the enemy.
Losthin deployed 6 guns under Captain Hahn on his right, on a hill, while the infantry was in closed column on the road.
(This is not clear to us if the infantry was formed in line, or column, or in "several small squares".)
Losthin's cavalry moved forward, with the brown-clad hussars leading the attack.
Behind were dragoons and in the tail rode the Bosniaks.

The brave Lefebvre-Desnouettes personally led the uhlans.
They at once crushed the Prussian cavalry.
Losthin's shocked infantry surrendered but when the the uhlans left them in pursuit of the cavalry some
of the Prussians began firing at the backs of the Poles. The uhlans returned and finished their business.
The infantrymen again surrendered and did it quite convincingly.

Major Losthin thanked his fast horse that he was able to escape.
The Poles also freed two Saxon battalions who before had surrendered to the Prussians.
The uhlans suffered only several men wounded and killed.
They captured 30 officers and 800 privates,
4 guns and 4 ammunition wagons.
To the disgust of Lefebvre-Desnouettes, the Saxons and Bavarians joined the uhlans in the
triumphant entrance to the city.

Near the fortress walls of Klodzko, squadron of uhlans led by Stokowski routed
Prussian hussars. Another squadron escorted artillery and convoys.
In June the fortress surrendered to the French.
Jerome Bonaparte inspected the uhlans.

PS.
The French counted the battles at Katy [Kunt] and at Struga [Strigau] as one and issued one report.
The Prussians published an article about the two battles in Vertraute Briefen written by Werner
(it was published in Breslau, today Wroclaw). Werner wrote that the moral strength of the uhlans - all 6-8-year service veterans,
patriotic, were invincible for troops not equal to them.
In the French Archives, Jerome Bonaparte's papers (French Archives C³ 1), is an official report written by Jerome about the engagement at Struga. He wrote that 250 Polish uhlans commanded by Major Piotr Swiderski fought at Struga. They suffered 7 killed and 15 wounded (incl. Ltn. Schultz and Ltn. Fijalkowski). He also mentioned that although the regiment had 400 men, only 280 had horses and were able to participate in the combat.
In the papers of officer Jan Swiderski is a letter from Levebvre Desnouettes written on 15th May in Szczawno (on the day of battle) describing the battle at Struga (War Archives in Vincennes, Serie C³ 1. Correspondance du Roi Jérôme 1806-1813).

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Saragossa 1808
Fed up with Spanish sniping, the uhlans
stormed an entrenched camp.

The Spanish War of Independence (or Peninsular War) pitted Spain, Great Britain, and Portugal
against Napoleonic France. The war began when French troops occupied Portugal in 1807 and Spain in 1808.
It was the first large-scale guerilla war, from which the English language borrowed the word.
The uhlans participated in the siege of Saragossa. Fed up with Spanish sniping, they "climbed down from their
saddles and stormed an entrenched Spanish camp near Saragossa ... During the first phase of the siege they charged
a fortified city. They penetrated essentially right to its center. Unsupported and alone the lancers had to charge back out."
( - John Elting)

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Mallen 1808.
After the Spaniards nicknamed them
"Los Diablos Polacos."

In June 1808 at Mallen, General Lefebvre-Desnouettes ordered the Vistula Uhlans to outflank the Spanish guerillas.
The enemy fled across Ebro River with the uhlans hot on their heels. French writers, for example Thiers and Grasset mention how big
impression made the lance-armed cavalry on the enemy. The Spaniards nicknamed them "Los Diablos Polacos",
the Devils Poles. On the way back one officer and several uhlans drowned in the river.

At Yébenes, or Jevennes, the Spaniards, mostly cavalry (several regiments, incl. the Royal Carabiniers),
attacked the Vistula Uhlans. Heavily outnumbered and surrounded, the Poles were forced to make their way through enemy's lines.
The fighting withdrawal was successful although costly.
In the heat of the battle several wagons were left by the uhlans on the side of the road.
In one of them were neatly packed all four colors of the regiment.
Nobody defended the colors as the uhlans assumed they were left in the depot.
They had no idea that before leaving for campaign one of the senior officers secretly decided to take all Colors.
(They were detached from wooden poles, rolled and packed into the wagon.)
The uhlans were horrified when they learned what happened.
Napoleon was furious.

According to wikipedia.org (2006) "The Battle of Talavera was a bloody yet inconclusive battle
70 miles Southwest of Madrid. Although the French army withdrew from the field, the British soon withdrew
from Spain, leaving their wounded to the Spanish, who left them to the French, reducing trust between
British and Spanish forces for the rest of the Peninsular War." At Talavera the uhlans were part of Merlin's division.
In the last stages of the battle Wellington unleashed part of his cavalry.
When the British 23rd Light Dragoons (450 men) broke through the French 10th and 26th Horse Chasseurs, General Merlin ordered the Vistula Uhlans (390 men) in the first line and
the Westphalian lighthorsemen (144 men) in the second line, to charge.
The Poles hit the enemy frontally and crushed them. Meanwhile the French chasseurs came against
the flank of the dragoons. The British regiment lost 207 killed, wounded and missing,
and 105 were captured (according to Oman, Vol II, p 545-549).
It gives 70 % (!) casualties.

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Ocana 1809
The cavalry charge was "executed with great vigor,
especially by the Poles" - William Napier

The battle of Ocana was the Spanish army's greatest single defeat during the entire Peninsular War.
While in the center fought the Spanish and French infantry, the cavalry clashed on the flank.
William Napier writes, "The Spaniards came on at a trot, and Sebastiani directed Paris,
with a regiment of light cavalry and the Polish lancers,
to turn and fall upon the right flank of the approaching squadrons, which being executed
with great vigor, especially by the Poles, caused considerable confusion,
with the Spanish general endeavored to remedy by closing to the assailed flank.
Many were slain, several hundred wounded, and 80 troopers and above 500 horses were taken.
The loss of the French bore no proportion in men, but General Paris was killed,
and several superior officers were wounded." (Napier - "History of the War in the Peninsula 1807-1814" Vol II, p 247)
Many uhalns were awarded with Legion d'Honneur.

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Albuera 1811.
The uhlans and hussars destroyed British
infantry brigade, routed British dragoons
and Spanish cavalry. Five Colors were taken.

In May 1811 at Albuera [Albuhera] the uhlans covered themselves with glory.
They destroyed British infantry brigade under Colborne, defeated Spanish and British cavalry and captured 5 Colors.
No other Napoleonic troop, infantry or cavalry, ever captured so many British colors.
Unfortunately Albuera had little effect on the course of the war in Spain.

In the beginning of the battle, General Latour-Maubourg sent 100 men (or four platoons of flankers) of Vistula Uhlan Regiment,
and several French squadrons across the river. The uhlans were formed as follow:
50 men were in skirmish formation under Lieutenant Rogajski and 50 formed a reserve under Lieutenant Wojciechowski.
General Long ordered Ltn. Col. Sir Granby Calcroft of the 3rd Dragoon Guards (370-374 men) to meet the enemy.
"Forward and charge, Sir Granby, if you please." (Ian Fletcher wrote that General Long brought 3rd Dragoon Guards and
13th Light Dragoons. The Poles however mention only one British regiment.)
The 3rd Dragoon Guards was a fine unit.
The right to use the 'Ich Dien' badge was granted to the 3rd Dragoon Guards in 1765,
and subsequently became their cap badge. The dragoon guards regiments took precedence
over all other cavalry regiments of the line.
The dragoon leading squadron consisted of 120 men; and they were the first ones to clash with the uhlans in skirmish formation (50 men).
The combat was short and the dragoons broke and fled. Immediately the remaining squadrons of 3rd Dragoon Guards
attacked the uhlans. The Poles fled downhill.
Once the pursuers became disordered by the chase the uhlans slowed down their "flight",
then turned around and attacked the dragoons. The dragoons were driven uphill and pursued until British infantry opened
fire. The musketry forced the Poles to fall back.
They had suffered 16 killed and wounded (12 from infantry fire and only 2 from dragoons), while the dragoons suffered at
least 20 casualties (10 killed, 9 wounded, 1 missing). For this battle,
Rogoyski and Wojciechowski were awarded with French Legion d'Honneur. (Kirkor - "Legia Nadwislanska 1808-1814" p 298)

"[At Albuera] The brave French infantry struggled with breaking through the British and Spanish lines.
Then the Vistula Uhlans turn came. The charge sounded and the uhlans went on, charging everything they came across and
hacking right and left at the enemy. The blood of officers and men alike was at fever heat. It was a glorious sight, one eminently calculated to stir
the blood to madness. Colborne's brigade was completely overawed.
Many redcoats made a wild dash for liberty. The uhlans gallop off in pursuit.
Sir John Colborne's battalions were routed with immense slaughter and thoroughly reduced to the sorest straits.
Severeral hundred prisoners were made, and 5 standards were captured.
Still continuing their triumphal ride, the uhlans attacked the Germans (KGL) and Spaniards."

PS.
Napoleon and his marshals were so impressed with the Vistula Uhlans' performance that they decided to
form their own six (seven) lancer regiments. The instructors came from the Vistula Uhlan Regiment and
from the Guard Lancers. Colonel of the Vistula Uhlans, Jan Konopka, became Chief Inspector of Training for
the newly formed French lancer regiments.
Shortly after the Napoleonic Wars the British 16th Light Dragoon Regiment was equipped as lancers.
According to a British website "During the Peninsula wars the British army suffered terrible casualties
from the Polish Vistula lancers, so the 16th Light Dragoons, now as lancers tried to emulate them not only in skill at arms, but also in appearance."
The Polish connection is not hard to miss, the uniforms, lances and pennants can all be traced in style to the Polish regiments that inspired them...the 17th Lancers were involved and which is still celebrated every year "The Charge of the Light Brigade".
Article: "The Charge Of The Light Brigade"
- by Lord Tennyson (ext.link)

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1812.Napoleon ordered the uhlans go to Russia,
but French marshals refused to follow this
order and kept them as personal escorts.

In the Invasion of Russia participated only 60 uhlans.
This small group was led by Lieutenant Boguslawski and was attached to the 1st Guard Lighthorse-Lancers
(Old Guard) as the 11th Company.
Actually Napoleon ordered all the uhlans go to Russia, but French marshals did not follow
this order and kept them as personal escorts. Spain was a very dangerous place.
The uhlans were unhappy with these arrangements. It had a negative impact on their morale and discipline.
Instead of fighting the hated Russians, they were skirmishing with the British,
escorting French marshals, and chasing the Spanish guerillas.
Neither Britain nor Spain ever occupied Poland.
The esprit de corps decreased further after large number of uhlans were selected to the Old Guard
Lighthorse-Lancers. These veterans were replaced with young recruits. The Vistula Uhlans were still
a superb unit but not as good as before.

Meanwhile the small troop of uhlans who went to Russia suffered a setback.
On 16th September 1812, Chef de Escadron Cotty with 60 Vistula Uhlans and 70 Red Lancers scouted
on the road to Borowsk in Russia. Cotty's force was attacked in the wood from both flanks and rear by a stronger force of Cossacks.
The uhlans and the Red Lancers were routed. Boguslawski was furious with careless Cotty and the heated exchange of opinion ended up
in a duel.

At Dresden in 1813 the 2nd Vistula Uhlans (8th Lancers) actually spearheaded one of the massive cavalry charges
led by Marshal Murat. The 1st Uhlans (7th Lancers) became part of French garrison of Dresden.
Not long after Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig, Marshal St. Cyr and the garrisson of
Dresden attempted to break through enemy's lines. It failed and St. Cyr surrendered.
The captured uhlans (446) were taken into Hungary and there were kept until the end of war.
Approx. 230 uhlans were with other French troops and these moved to France.

In 1815 the 7th Lancers met Napoleon on the road near Rambouillet.
He was on his long way to St. Helen. (Marchand - "Memoires" 1952 VOL I, p 192)
The last action was on July 7th, after Napoleon's second abdication. They distinguished themselves in the defense of bridge at Sevres
and were were highly praised by Marshal Davout. (Due to lack of horses they fought on foot.)

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Miscellaneous.Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

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Shortly after Napoleonic Wars the British 16th Light Dragoon Regiment was equipped as lancers. According to a British website "During the Peninsula wars the British army suffered terrible casualties from the Polish Vistula lancers, so the 16th Light Dragoons, now as lancers tried to emulate them not only in skill at arms, but also in appearance."
The Polish connection is not hard to miss, the uniforms, lances and pennants can all be traced in style to the Polish regiments that inspired them ... the 17th Lancers were involved and which is still celebrated every year "The Charge of the Light Brigade".

Uhlans of the Vistula Legion during the grand military parade in 1966.
(A military parade was held in Warsaw in 1966 to celebrate the 1000 years
of the polish state. It was so-called Polonia Millennium Military Parade
"Throughout Ages")